Employment, Pensions and Incentives

In a changing market, with legal developments coming thick and fast, workforce matters often present challenges on a daily basis. Any form of change can have a significant impact on staff, remuneration and benefits and may, in a highly regulated area, potentially expose you to increased costs and litigation.

Our integrated employment, pensions and incentives group is experienced in advising clients on all aspects of workforce matters. Our high quality, business-focused advice is recognised by the leading independent legal directories, Chambers and Legal 500. Whether your requirements are domestic, international or focused on inward investment, we will provide specialist advice and strategic, practical and cost-effective solutions.

Notable deals / highlights

Advised an international IT services provider as it competed for a number of high profile IT outsourcing projects and service deals. We led on providing multi-jurisdictional employment advice and support in relation to the potential transfer of staff covering both the UK and a significant number of separate jurisdictions (obtaining advice from local partners where appropriate).

Represented a major public body on a multi-day, multi-issue race discrimination dispute listed in the Employment Tribunal for eight weeks. The case tested our project management skills, was highly newsworthy and political in nature and involved issues going back over a decade, considerable documentation and numerous respondents and witnesses. The dispute was successfully resolved through an all-parties mediation that we led and coordinated.

Acted for a major transatlantic banking group on the merger of two UK pension schemes, working closely with our client and the other advising firms to anticipate issues and address them in a constructive and collaborative way to ensure the project was completed in the most cost effective and efficient manner while being consistent with the protection of members' interests.

Acted for a long-standing trustee client in the negotiation, documentation and filing of a parent company guarantee to mitigate the PPF levy. We used our international colleagues to advise on the proper execution of the guarantee in the parent company's jurisdiction.

Advised oil exploration company Trap Oil Group plc on the grant of pre-IPO options to management and implementing a suite of new option plans adopted in relation to its listing on AIM.

Advised Versarien plc on the implementation of an enterprise management incentive option plan as part of its admission to trading on AIM.